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A Sociolinguistic Profile of Kolami Dialects DigitalResources Electronic Survey Report 2015-014 A Sociolinguistic Profile of Kolami Dialects Compiled by Frank Blair A Sociolinguistic Profile of Kolami Dialects Compiled by Frank Blair Researchers: Frank Blair Bruce Cain Kathy Cain Jonathan Chauvan Devadanam Edwin Kiran Gaikwad Steve Watters SIL International® 2015 SIL Electronic Survey Report 2015-014, December 2015 © 2015 SIL International® All rights reserved Abstract This survey was undertaken over a six-month period in late 1986 and early 1987 in five districts of India: four in eastern Maharashtra—Yavatmal, Wardha, Nanded, and Chandrapur District—and one, Adilabad District, in what was at the time western Andhra Pradesh.1 The survey had three main goals: 1) determine dialect areas, 2) assess the level of bilingualism, and 3) determine language use and attitudes. On the basis of wordlist comparisons, the survey established that there are at least two distinct dialects of Kolami: Eastern (or Southeastern) Kolami and Western (or Northwestern) Kolami. Dialect intelligibility testing confirmed these results. The wordlist comparisons further suggested the possibility of a third, Central, dialect. Using recorded text tests, the survey assessed the level of bilingualism among the Kolavar in the state languages of Marathi and Telegu. The results showed that most Kolavar are not sufficiently bilingual, with the exception of one community in Yavatmal District. As a result, literacy work would need to be conducted in the Kolam varieties. Finally, a questionnaire was administered to determine language use and language attitudes. It found that Kolami is being used widely and people have a positive attitude towards their language. In terms of language development, the survey recommends that separate projects are necessary for the Eastern and Western Kolami dialects. Speakers of Central Kolami may be able to use Western Kolami materials. [This survey report written some time ago deserves to be made available even at this late date. Conditions were such that it was not published when originally written. The reader is cautioned that more recent research may be available. Historical data is quite valuable as it provides a basis for a longitudinal analysis and helps us understand both the trajectory and pace of change as compared with more recent studies.—Editor] 1Editor’s note: Western Andhra Pradesh became a separate state in June 2014, known as Telangana. References to Andhra Pradesh in this report reflect the administrative divisions at the time of the survey in 1986–1987. Contents List of tables Preface 1 Introduction 1.1 Geography 1.2 People 1.2.1 Language 1.2.2 Population 2 Goals 2.1 Demographic profile 2.2 Linguistic similarity 2.3 Dialect intelligibility 2.4 Bilingualism 2.5 Language use and language attitudes 3 Summary of findings 3.1 Dialect areas 3.2 Bilingualism 3.3 Language use and language attitudes 4 Dialect areas 4.1 Linguistic similarity 4.1.1 Procedures 4.1.2 Sources of Kolami vocabulary 4.1.3 Similarity charts 4.2 Dialect intelligibility 4.2.1 Procedures 4.2.2 Dialect intelligibility scores 4.3 Conclusion 5 Bilingualism 5.1 Procedures 5.1.1 Pilot tests 5.1.2 Recorded Text Tests 5.1.3 Self-evaluation questionnaire 5.2 Preliminary bilingualism testing 5.3 Comprehensive bilingualism testing 5.4 Conclusion 5.4.1 Telugu 5.4.2 Marathi 6 Language use and language attitudes 6.1 Procedures 6.1.1 Questionnaires 6.1.2 Observation 6.2 Data 6.2.1 Sample 6.2.2 Language use 6.2.3 Language vitality 6.2.4 Language attitudes 7 Recommendations 7.1 For language development 7.2 For literacy 7.3 For further survey Appendix A: Demographic questionaire iii iv Appendix B: Bilingualism questionnaire Appendix C: Language use and language attitude questionnaire References List of tables Table 1. Sources of Kolami vocabulary, in percentages (from Emeneau 1955:139) Table 2. Similarity percentages for three Kolami wordlists and a Naiki wordlist Table 3. Percentages of similar words in three Kolami wordlists and a Naiki wordlist Table 4. Similarity percentages for seven Kolami wordlists Table 5. Number of similar words out of total words in seven Kolami wordlists Table 6. Similarity percentages between Emeneau’s wordlist and three Western Kolami wordlists Table 7. Number of similar words between Emeneau’s wordlist and three Western Kolami wordlists Table 8. Similarity percentages between Emeneau and a Central and Eastern Kolami wordlist Table 9. Number of similar words between Emeneau and a Central and Eastern Kolami wordlist Table 10. Similarity percentages for four Kolami wordlists and Naik’s wordlist Table 11. Number of similar words in four Kolami wordlists and Naik’s wordlist Table 12. Similarity percentages for Rao’s wordlist and two Kolami wordlists Table 13. Number of similar words between Rao’s wordlist and two Kolami wordlists Table 14. Similarity percentages for Burrows and Bhattacharya’s wordlist and two Kolami wordlists Table 15. Number of similar words for Burrows and Bhattacharya’s wordlist and two Kolami wordlists Table 16. Four analytical situations on dialect intelligibly tests Table 17. Kolami dialect intelligibility test scores Table 18. Marathi recorded text test scores (pilot tests) Table 19. Test scores from Ner Taluk of Yavatmal District (broad categories) Table 20. Test scores from Ner Taluk of Yavatmal District (narrow categories) Table 21. Sample for Kolami language use and attitude questionnaire Table 22. Responses to question 8 by educated and uneducated people Table 23. Responses to question 9 by educated and uneducated people v Preface This survey was undertaken in the last quarter of 1986 and the first quarter of 1987. It sought to discover more about the social and linguistic situation of the Kolavar in Yavatmal and the surrounding areas. It is with a feeling of gratitude that I acknowledge my indebtedness to the many persons who have contributed directly or indirectly to the present study. Without all this help and collaboration the result would not be what it is. It goes without saying that I alone am responsible for any errors of fact or opinion. The spelling of Marathi proper nouns is somewhat problematic when using Roman script. The ambiguity of the choices involved is increased by the fact that the proper nouns themselves often have more than one form, especially since the “Marathization” program has begun. I have tried to use the currently accepted Roman spellings of Marathi proper nouns insofar as I am aware of them. Where the current spelling differs more than marginally from previously common spellings, I have given the alternate spelling in parentheses the first time the word is used. Thereafter I have used the current spelling, except when quoting an author who uses one of the older spellings. F. Blair, M.A. (Linguistics) Kathmandu, Nepal 15 November 1987 vi 1 Introduction 1.1 Geography Five districts were visited in the course of this survey. Four of these are in eastern Maharashtra: Yavatmal District (Yeotmal), Wardha District, Nanded (Nander) District, and Chandrapur District. The fifth district, Adilabad District, is in western Andhra Pradesh. Adilabad is bounded on the north by Yavatmal District and Chandrapur District, and on the west by Nanded District. Wardha District lies north of Yavatmal District.2 Topographically, this portion of the Andhra Pradesh-Maharashtra border alternates rolling hills with broad plains. Some of the hill areas in Chandrapur and Nanded are still forested, but deforestation has taken a toll in other regions. 1.2 People 1.2.1 Language Among the many ethnic groups inhabiting this portion of the Andhra Pradesh-Maharashtra border are the Kolavar (or Kolams). The Kolavar speak a Dravidian language known as Kolami. Emeneau (1955:141) says: “That Kolami is a language of the Dravidian family hardly needs detailed demonstration.” On the basis of his field inquiries, Emeneau (1955) lists four Kolami dialects. One is spoken in Wardha District and in northern Yavatmal District (in Yavatmal taluk). A second is spoken by the Kolavar of Kelapur and Wun taluks, also in the Yavatmal District. (This presumably includes the areas now called Maregaon and Wani taluks.) A third dialect is spoken by the Kolavar of Andhra Pradesh. The Kolavar of Chinnur and Sirpur taluks of Adilabad District are said to have a dialect different from that of the other Kolavar in Andhra Pradesh, being more influenced by Telugu, but it is not clear if the Kolavar of these two taluks have given up the Kolami language entirely in favor of Telugu. A fourth dialect is said to be spoken by the Kolavar of Betul District of Madhya Pradesh, though Emeneau says he has no other report (besides his field inquiries) of the existence of Kolavar in Betul District (ibid.:4). Emeneau (idem) also reports that he was told that the Kolavar of Wardha District and Yavatmal taluk in Yavatmal District are said to form one endogamous division, and the Kolavar of Kelapur and Wun taluks form a second, the Kolavar of Andhra a third, and those of Betul a fourth. This survey did not establish the existence of Kolavar in Betul District. The district was visited several times in the course of the research for Stahl 1986 and no Kolavar were encountered. None of the Kolavar interviewed in the course of the research for this project knew of any Kolavar north of Pulgaon taluk in Wardha District. There is a population of Korku people in Betul District speaking a Munda language; perhaps these were confused with the Kolavar at some point. The researchers were not able to visit Chinnur taluk in Adilabad District to confirm or deny the existence of a separate Kolami dialect in that region either. This still remains to be done. There do seem to be three endogamous divisions among the Kolavar, coinciding with those described by Emeneau apart from Betul.
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